abbreviate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.
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to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer.
to abbreviate a speech.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to shorten (a word or phrase) by contraction or omission of some letters or words
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to shorten (a speech or piece of writing) by omitting sections, paraphrasing, etc
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to cut short
Related Words
See shorten.
Other Word Forms
- abbreviator noun
Etymology
Origin of abbreviate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbreviātus shortened (past participle of abbreviāre ), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + breviātus ( brevi(s) “short“ + -ātus -ate 1 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The U.S. stock market will have an abbreviated trading session Wednesday for Christmas Eve, and will be closed Thursday for Christmas.
From MarketWatch
The U.S. stock market will have an abbreviated trading session Wednesday for Christmas Eve, and will be closed Thursday for Christmas.
From MarketWatch
The greatest moment by a Dodger benchwarmer in baseball history, a guy so embedded in the landscape of Los Angeles sports that he will be forever known simply by two abbreviated versions of his name...
From Los Angeles Times
It will reopen on Friday for an abbreviated session that ends at 1 p.m.
From MarketWatch
This week is an abbreviated one for stock trading—markets are closed Thursday for the holiday, and both the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange close at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
